Manometer Fluid Selection — Required Properties The liquid used in manometers should have which characteristic so that pressure differences can be measured accurately and with short columns?

Introduction:
Choosing a manometric fluid affects the sensitivity, size, and accuracy of pressure measurement devices. The key is to balance column height, capillary effects, vapor pressure, wetting, and chemical compatibility.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Static pressure measurement in U-tube or differential manometers.
• Small to moderate pressure differences typical of laboratory or industrial setups.
• Standard ambient conditions; clean, wettable tubes.

Concept / Approach:
Pressure difference is Delta p = rho * g * Delta h. For a given Delta p, the required column height is Delta h = Delta p / (rho * g). A larger density rho reduces the needed height, making instruments compact and less susceptible to reading error.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Start from Delta p = rhogDelta h.For fixed Delta p, increasing rho lowers Delta h and improves readability.High-density fluids (e.g., mercury) therefore allow shorter columns and higher stability.

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare water (rho about 1000 kg/m^3) to mercury (rho about 13,600 kg/m^3). For the same pressure, the mercury column is roughly 13.6 times shorter, confirming the benefit of high density.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Low density requires very tall columns, reducing practicality.
Low or high surface tension alone does not guarantee accuracy; excessive capillarity can distort meniscus readings, but density is the primary requirement in this simplified list.

Common Pitfalls:
Ignoring vapor pressure (should be low), toxicity/compatibility, and temperature effects; reading the meniscus incorrectly; capillary rise in narrow tubes without correction.

Final Answer:
high density